The Sixer Sense
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Nemanja Bjelica adds to Sixers’ roster clutter

By Luke Swiatek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets defends against Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - APRIL 11: Wilson Chandler #21 of the Denver Nuggets defends against Nemanja Bjelica #8 of the Minnesota Timberwolves during the game on April 11, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 112-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers have signed Nemanja Bjelica, formerly of the Minnesota Timberwolves, to a one year deal. They now have 17 players on the roster.

Nemanja Bjelica (pronounced NEH-mahn-yah BYELL-eet-sah) averaged 11.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per-36 minutes last year, and shot 41.5 percent from deep.

Bjelica, or “Belly” is a good player, as evidenced by the fact that noted bench-hater Tom Thibodeau played Nemanja the most minutes of any bench player (20.5) other than Jamal Crawford (20.7).

In terms of style of play, Bjelica is a classical stretch-four, in the mold of the departed Ersan Ilyasova. Ilyasova was a bit more prolific than Bjelica (with 15.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per-36), but was not as good of a shooter, coming in at only 36.0 from three-point range on the year. Bjelica, at 30, is is also a year younger.

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It’s being reported that the deal is worth the Room Mid-Level Exception (around $4.4 million), which is the last bit of meaningful cap space the Philadelphia 76ers possess.

It seems as though all the important pieces of Philly’s team last year have more or less been replaced. “Belly” can fill Ilyasova’s role, Wilson Chandler should render Justin Anderson redundant, and some combination of Zhaire Smith and Landry Shamet should be taking Marco’s minutes.

(Shamet is stylistically a much more similar player, but Zhaire’s higher draft status and potential will likely warrant playing him more.)

Additionally, the 76ers have retained Amir Johnson on a minimum deal, and are essentially “adding” Markelle Fultz to the mix, after he played only 14 games.

Clearly, the 76ers have a lot of solid talent, but “solid” teams rarely win championships. There is something to be said for depth of course, but consolidating some of the good players (or “star-hunting”) into one great one would be a win-win: it will improve the talent level of our team, and alleviate the roster crunch.

As it stands right now, we have 17 players under contract for the 2018-19 season, not including Jonah Bolden or Shake Milton. I briefly spoke (on Twitter) with Hinkie-era Philadelphia 76ers former VP of Basketball Strategy Ben Falk, and he said that currently we could only sign Bolden to the minimum, and he may not necessarily enjoy that.

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However, there are paths towards clearing the roster for Bolden and Shake. The path of least resistance is to waive Jerryd Bayless, and terminate T.J. McConnell and Richaun Holmes‘s non-guaranteed contracts. This would give us one spot to sign Bolden, and Shake can always be signed to a two-way deal.

However, I hate that idea. I hate giving something (like McConnell and Holmes) up for nothing when there’s still some value in them. I also would prefer not to sign Shake to a two-way contract, since those can only be for a maximum of two seasons.

A better idea, which I prefer: package some young, minor assets with Bayless to move him. Right now, it would certainly take at least a second-round pick to trade Bayless’s contract to a rebuilding team, but a young player or two could sweeten it.

Perhaps a team like the Hawks, Bulls, Nets or Kings (I’m not sure about the latter two’s salary cap space) would be willing to take Bayless along with, say, Anderson and Holmes, or Furkan Korkmaz and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot.

These rebuilding teams would take on more than $10 million in salary, but in return get two young pieces they might actually want tokeep. Maybe they’d even be willing to give US a pick or two for the privilege.

Clearing three roster spots (and cap space) at once would give us the ability to sign Bolden (or some other free agent) for a little bit of extra money, and give us some flexibility in future trades as well.

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The off-season roster expands to 20 players for a while, so the Philadelphia 76ers don’t necessarily need to move immediately. But sooner or later, something’s got to give.